Published: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 01:12 AM.

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According to the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, James Scott Wiggins allegedly fired a .357-caliber handgun at his brother, Davis Brent Wiggins, hitting him in the neck. Brent Wiggins died at the scene — Scott Wiggins’ residence — shortly thereafter.

Monday, the only signs anything occurred were vehicles arriving and departing from Brent Wiggins’ home, and family gathered to grieve. Currently, no one has been arrested and charges are pending with the district attorney’s office.

The men and their families lived next door to each other in the 5800 block of Little Wiggins Road.

The LCSO reports the men engaged in an argument earlier Sunday, and Brent Wiggins walked over to his brother’s residence later on that evening. Around 8 p.m., deputies responded to the house after a call that a person had been shot.

Allegedly, Brent Wiggins continued the argument and the brothers started fighting when they were separated by their wives. After being asked to leave and then blocked by the men’s wives from reentering the side door to the house, Brent Wiggins kept arguing with Scott Wiggins.

The LCSO stated Scott Wiggins went to get a gun and fired a warning shot. When that didn’t get Brent Wiggins to leave, he allegedly fired again, striking Brent Wiggins in the neck.

According to the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, James Scott Wiggins allegedly fired a .357-caliber handgun at his brother, Davis Brent Wiggins, hitting him in the neck. Brent Wiggins died at the scene — Scott Wiggins’ residence — shortly thereafter.

Monday, the only signs anything occurred were vehicles arriving and departing from Brent Wiggins’ home, and family gathered to grieve. Currently, no one has been arrested and charges are pending with the district attorney’s office.

The men and their families lived next door to each other in the 5800 block of Little Wiggins Road.

The LCSO reports the men engaged in an argument earlier Sunday, and Brent Wiggins walked over to his brother’s residence later on that evening. Around 8 p.m., deputies responded to the house after a call that a person had been shot.

Allegedly, Brent Wiggins continued the argument and the brothers started fighting when they were separated by their wives. After being asked to leave and then blocked by the men’s wives from reentering the side door to the house, Brent Wiggins kept arguing with Scott Wiggins.

The LCSO stated Scott Wiggins went to get a gun and fired a warning shot. When that didn’t get Brent Wiggins to leave, he allegedly fired again, striking Brent Wiggins in the neck.

Scott Wiggins and the victim’s wife, Shana Wiggins, reportedly tried to perform CPR but were unsuccessful.

Deputies suspect alcohol played a role in Brent Wiggins’ behavior, and his body was sent to Lenoir Memorial Hospital for an autopsy.

“It is a sad and tragic day when you have one family member killing another,” Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Wiggins family.”

As of the last annual report filings with the Secretary of State — February 2012 — the Wiggins brothers were officers of Wiggins Farms, located next to Wiggins Brothers Farms down the road from the residences.

Brent Wiggins is listed as president, while Scott Wiggins is the vice president. An April 2012 filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, signed by Scott Wiggins, sought relief for the company under Chapter 11 of the federal tax code.

In general, Chapter 11 allows a corporation to reorganize while working a plan to pay off creditors. The petition filed for Wiggins Farms lists 19 creditors, ranging from farm equipment and legal services to loans and back taxes.

AgCarolina Farm Credit, BB&T and Crop Production Services objected to the reorganization plan, and AgCarolina representatives said there were seven outstanding loans at the time totaling more than $2.36 million.

Judge Randy Daub denied the bankruptcy petition on Dec. 6, 2012, ruling he found the payment schedule to the creditors unfeasible, and that it wasn’t fair and equitable for AgCarolina.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @WolfeReports.